Onboarding Made Easy
Learn how to quickly add child profiles and invite parents to the digital registration flow.
Setting up your first child profile in KinderStart takes 5 minutes to complete. We've stripped away the data mountain so you can unlock the app's powerful features in under two minutes.
The goal here isn't to create a full legal record yet—get one child into the system so you can start exploring the Daily Diary, Observations, and Invoicing.
Step 1: Open the Children Tab
On your app's bottom navigation bar, tap on Children. From there, you'll see a prominent "+" (Add Child) button in the header. This is your gateway to everything.
Step 2: The Quick Add Flow
KinderStart supports every part of your setting, but it doesn't have to start with a mountain of data entry. Use the Quick Add flow to get a child into the system in seconds.
- Child's Name: This is the only mandatory field to get started.
- Registration Status: If you're using Quick Add, the profile is marked as Pending until the parent completes the full registration.
Step 3: Inviting Parents (Sharing the Journey)
Now that the child is in the system, invite the parents to the Secure Parent Portal.
- Tap on the child's profile you just created.
- Select the Parents tab.
- Tap Invite Parent and enter their email address.
A Shared Journey: Once the parent accepts their invite, KinderStart automatically prompts them to share their child's unique story (including medical details and emergency contacts) from their phone. They do the initial data entry, and it syncs directly to your setting for you to review together!
Step 4: Setting the Schedule (Generating a Contract)
Once you have a parent linked, set the child's attendance schedule by Generating a Contract. Think of this as the "heart" of the app—it tells your Register who to expect and helps the Invoicing engine handle your fees automatically.
- From the child's profile, tap the Contracts tab.
- Tap the "+" (Generate Contract) button.
- Select a Template: Choose from your pre-set templates (Standard, Term-Time, etc.).
- Confirm Clauses: Review the terms and toggle any optional clauses.
- Schedule: Choose the days and times the child is with you. Set Fixed, Alternating, or Term-Time Only patterns.
- Financials: Set your hourly rate, any funded hours, and consumables charges.
💡Looking for more control?
Fully customise your business defaults before generating contracts:
Avoid the Data Mountain Pitfall
💡Collaboration is Key
Many new childminders feel they need to fill in every medical, dietary, and emergency contact field before they can start using the app. You don't.
Get the child added with the Quick Add flow (Step 2), then invite the parent. Let them share the details while they feel part of the process!
Add your business logo in Business Settings to complete your branding. KinderStart stores it securely on encrypted servers.
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KinderStart strives for accuracy. Competitor features and pricing comparisons are based on publicly available information as of May 2026. Details are subject to change by respective providers.